Athletic Stance
Getting this posture right from the start will prevent bad habits that take years to undo and make every technique click faster.
The foundational body position for all skiing — knees bent, weight forward, hands visible, and spine neutral — the platform everything else builds on.
Watch & Learn
Not clicking? Try a different teaching style below:
Key Moments
Hip-width apart, flat on the full sole — not toes up or heels lifted
Soft knees, not locked — imagine hovering just above a chair
Shins press the boot tongue — your weight is forward over the balls of your feet
Hands at hip height, out in front where you can see them — not dangling at your sides
What It Should Feel Like
- ✓Like a soccer player or tennis player waiting to receive a ball — alert, springy, ready
- ✓Your shins touching the front of your boots — this forward pressure is correct and essential
- ✓Relaxed shoulders and a natural breathing rhythm — tension anywhere kills your balance
Common Mistakes & Fixes
Sitting back on the tails of the skis
Press shins forward into boot tongues continuously — the tails should feel light
Locking the knees straight
Sit into a slight squat — stiff legs cannot absorb terrain or respond to speed changes
Hands dropping behind the hips
Keep both hands visible in your peripheral vision at all times
Practice Drills
Wall check: stand in ski boots against a wall with heels 15cm away — correct stance means your shins and knees touch the wall before your torso
Bounce test: in proper stance, gently bounce up and down — if you feel locked, bend your knees more until the bounce flows naturally
Hand-visibility run: ski a full green run ensuring your hands stay in peripheral vision the entire time — hands in front keeps the whole chain correct